Tender to stabilize northeast corner of building, patch roof

Although it's far from a decision on its future, Amherst is going to make some repairs to stabilize the BMO building.

Although it's far from a decision on its future, Amherst is going to make some repairs to stabilize the BMO building.

AMHERST – Amherst is set to spend just under $40,000 to make necessary repairs to the former BMO building on the corner of Victoria and LaPlanche Street.

Council will accept a tender from Flagship Construction at its regular meeting on Monday to stabilize the northeast corner of the building, remove its chimney and patch the roof.

Three tenders were received for the work with Flagship’s coming in at $39,200 compared to $42,350 from Costal Reconstruction and $47,028 from Masontech Inc.

Deputy CAO Jason MacDonald said the repairs are being made, mainly for safety reasons and to prevent water from flowing into the building through the roof.

Amherst has made no decision on the future of the building that was the former home of the Amherst Police Department and was last used in the mid-1990s as the home of youth group Project Echo.

The town bought the building from a Halifax developer several years ago.

It issued a call for proposals earlier this year and has been talking to one possible user.

Coun. George Baker asked if the repairs would make the building usable right away, but MacDonald said the work is mainly to stabilize the building. The deputy CAO said it’s not close to being ready for occupancy.

Baker said if the town’s going to spend $40,000 to stabilize it, it should also get a price on what it will cost to demolish it. Deputy Mayor Terry Rhindress asked if the town is in a position to put it on the market and try to sell it.

Mayor Robert Small said it would be premature to talk about selling the building or how it will be used in the future.

“That’s a discussion we will have to have as a council at a later date,” the mayor said.

The town, the mayor said, is also working on a heritage strategy for its older buildings and it’s possible the building could be part of that strategy.

Earlier this year, the Cumberland Museum Society sent the town a letter calling on council to preserve the building as part o the town’s built heritage.

Its chairman Bill Fairbanks suggested tearing down the building would leave a gap in the smile of the downtown.